Marine Corps to Investigate Osprey Squadron

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 026-01
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2001
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
MARINE CORPS TO INVESTIGATE OSPREY SQUADRON
The Department of Defense today announced that the commandant of the Marine Corps has directed the inspector general of the Marine Corps to investigate allegations that the commanding officer of Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron-204 asked Marines to falsify maintenance records on the squadron's MV-22 Osprey aircraft.
Marine Corps officials first became aware of these allegations Jan. 12, when they received a copy of an anonymous letter and audio tape that was mailed to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy.
The information alleged that the unit commander asked his Marines to falsify maintenance documents concerning the squadron's MV-22 Osprey aircraft. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.
Marine Corps officials said that although the inspector general has yet to complete his investigation, at this point there appears to be no relation between these allegations and the causes of either the April 8 mishap in Marana, Ariz., or the Dec. 11 mishap in North Carolina.
Based upon a preliminary review of the information contained in the package, the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing relieved the squadron commander this morning, pending the inspector general's thorough investigation of the matter.
For more information, contact Maj. Patrick Gibbons, U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters, at (703) 614-4309.
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